Waldemar Borcholte was born in Hannover-Linden. His parents were August Hermann Borcholte, a labourer, and Minna Borcholte (née Henzel). He had a brother who was one and a half years older than him, but who died shortly after Waldemar was born. After his first birthday, the paediatrician decided that Waldemar needed to be placed in an institution. The very next day, Waldemar was taken by his mother to the Hanover-Langenhagen institution and nursing home. She was heavily pregnant with her third child. Since Waldemar had head lice and was very dirty, it can be assumed that his parents were overwhelmed.
Six years later, on 19 March 1938, Waldemar Borcholte was transferred to the Rotenburg institutions of the Inner Mission. During his three-year stay there, only three entries were made in his medical records. He was then transferred to the »children’s ward« in Lüneburg. He had already spent nine years in institutions.
Waldemar Borcholte had spent almost his entire life in institutions when he was murdered on 2 February 1942 at the age of ten. No one even bothered to inform his parents that he was unwell.
